Ultima Online was my first introduction to Ultima. I think I was hooked the moment that Treasure Chest opened and the dark, low, voice began its narration. I have played UO for seventeen [17] years ... and counting. I have come to loathe Electronic Arts and to love and revere Richard Garriot's "Lord British." That said, while I was incredibly happy & excited to have Garriot and Long come to celebrate our 17th Anniversary, I was at least equally disappointed by the lack of quality of the "Event," and the lack of any real interaction with our Lord's & King's. Killing folks rendered defenseless by spell & divine ability suppression was immature and pointless. I am sure both Garriot & Long are very busy and I am glad they took their time to visit us. I just wish their visit had been given the respect it deserved. Squelching early crowd speech was indeed a blessing, though most simply opined using gen chat. Personally, I'd like to know if EA's ban of Garriot as Lord British has been lifted or no longer applies. I'd love to see both Garriot and Long play at least a consulting role in UO's future, and more if possible. This is not meant as any criticism of Bonnie Armstrong & Company who currently run our show. Many, myself included, believe UO's population could again swell with the right changes. If we are wrong in this belief, then I hope one day a new but similar UO, one able to capture future generations, is brought into being. UO remains unmatched for the choices, the Player-control, it provides. That is what brought & kept me there for 17 years. The item-driven thing it has become will be its undoing if not reversed. PvP didn't begin UO's death spiral, nor did Trammel, but Developers abandoning Richard Garriot's model ... did.
Please Folks, I truly want to fall in love with a new UO. One that keeps the best of the old and adds only the best of the new.
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